Children are at the center of custody and visitation issues. When courts determine whether a parent should be granted visitation, it looks to what would be in the best interest of the kids. But sometimes determining what those "best interests" are is not a simple task.

The story of a severely brain damaged woman and the fight for her right to see her children captured the attention of people across the nation. She suffered brain damage in 2006 while giving birth to her triplets. Since then with her parents' help, she has been in a legal battle with her former husband.

But just recently, a judge ruled that she will receive visitation rights with her three kids, now almost 5 years old. Though the order is temporary, the woman will be able to see her children for five days each summer. In addition, the judge determined that online visits using the Internet video chat service Skype will occur at least once a month.

The judge rejected arguments from the woman's former husband, who felt that seeing their disabled mother wouldn't be in the best interest of his children. The former husband wanted to wait until the kids were a little older and after he was certain that their mother could interact with them on some level.

Despite those concerns, the judge found that the children would benefit to a relationship with their mother. He even noted that on a previous visit, the children seemed to bond with her even though it was for a short period of time.

The outcome in this case has been viewed as "precedent setting" and is likely to benefit everyone involved. The father is still the primary custodial parent of the three and there is no real harm to the children. The children and mother get to further develop a relationship and bond.

Source: CNN online, "Severely disabled mother wins visitation rights," 25 March 2011